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What is the Tour de Canal? The Tour de Canal is a fundraising event that benefits Alzheimer's Association of the National Capital Area. It is a challenging volunteer-supported bike ride along the scenic C&O Canal trail. At 184 miles, it is the longest off-road charity ride in the United States.
The Tour de Canal offers rides of varying difficulty. 184-mile ride. Ride the entire 184-mile length of the C&O Canal between Cumberland, Maryland and Georgetown, DC. 84 miles on Saturday (Cumberland to Williamsport) and 100 miles on Sunday (Williamsport to Georgetown. (Note: Riders must complete a qualifying ride.) 100-mile ride. Ride approximately 50 miles on Saturday (Little Orleans to Williamsport) and 50 miles on Sunday (Brunswick to Georgetown). (Note: Riders must complete a qualifying ride.) 10-mile ride. Ride 10 miles on Sunday (Carderock to Georgetown). This is a flat, well-groomed path that is an easy, enjoyable ride ideal for families, novice riders and seniors.
All riders and volunteers join in the closing celebration on the beautiful Georgetown waterfront.
When is it? The 5th Annual Tour de Canal will be held on Saturday, September 8 and Sunday, September 9, 2001. We will meet in Georgetown on Friday evening, September 7, to shuttle to our hotel in the Williamsport vicinity.
What's it like? The Tour de Canal route runs through the Appalachian mountains along the scenic Potomac River. The C&O Canal towpath is generally level with a hard-packed dirt or packed gravel surface. It is closed to vehicular traffic. For most of the route the towpath is wooded, and runs through rural areas and an occasional small town.
How can I participate? There are three ways to support the Tour de Canal.
Ride. Sign up to ride with us. The one and two-day rides have minimum sponsorship requirements, so you'll need to pledge or find sponsors. Then, begin your training schedule, which includes a mandatory qualifying ride.
Volunteer. The Tour de Canal would not be possible without the help of volunteers to support the riders. There are many jobs that must be done both before and during the event to make it a success. See Volunteer for more information about how you can help.
Sponsor a rider. If you are not able to ride or volunteer but would like to help The Alzheimer's Association of the National Capital Area, contact us to learn how you can sponsor a rider or provide other support.
How do I prepare for the ride? The Tour de Canal is a demanding ride. In two days distance riders will cover 100 or 184 miles of non-paved trail. The trail is generally level, but be prepared to ride on hard-packed dirt and over occasional stones and tree roots.
To complete the ride, you must be in good physical condition. If you like, we can help you train for it. We have developed a schedule of organized training rides of varying levels of difficulty, so you can start your training at a level you're comfortable with today.
We also give you some tips to help you prepare for the event.
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